Palladium Books® Weekly Update – Sept. 27, 2012

By Kevin Siembieda

It’s been another busy week for all of us at Palladium Books. The Alliance Open House went well, all projects are moving forward, and we continue to put in long hours to get product finished.

We are deep in trying to finish The Rifter® #60 and get it to the printer, as well as finishing all text and editing for Robotech® Genesis Pits™ Sourcebook, so I’m going to keep this Weekly Update short and to the point. I hope you don’t mind.

UPDATE: High-Octane Action

In one of my Murmurs from the Megaverse® last week, I grumbled that I was in a funk. Well, fear not. My funk gave way to what I call “dynamo-mode” – high-level enthusiasm in which I get a superhuman amount of work done in a short amount of time. I can only keep up that pace for so long, but the results are impressive. Of course, my week started off slow, as I was fighting off a bug and didn’t work most of Monday and was dragging on Tuesday. Ah, but I’ve already caught up on my missed work and have cleared my calendar for the next couple of weeks to focus almost entirely on writing and editing.

UPDATE: Dead Reign™

This game line only gets hotter and hotter, selling second only to Rifts®! Why all the excitement? Besides the obvious zombie-frenzy, the RPG has it all, Ordinary People as player characters, the epic struggle for survival in a post-apocalyptic modern world setting, death cults, mad men, innocent people in need of rescue, the survival of humanity, and zombies. Lots of different zombies. And the rules are set up for fast combat, fast action and fun, fun, fun.

If you have not taken a close look at this game series, you are missing out on visceral fun. Everyone I know who has tried this game loves it. And all you NEED to play is the core book. Give it a try. I think you’ll be surprised at how much fun this game setting is to play.

UPDATE: Advertising and Promotion

Wayne and I knocked out ads for the Dead Reign™: The Zombie Apocalypse role-playing game line as well as a sell sheet for one of our distributors. We’re also doing advertising in various trade magazines and trying to decide whether or not we should exhibit at the GAMA Trade Show and Origins next year. Even though those shows are in 2013, we have to start planning and booking space soon.

UPDATE: The Rifter® #60

The Rifter® #60 is in final production right now. All the artwork is in and Wayne is doing final edits and prep-work for typesetting and layout. We expect to be laying out the book over the weekend.

UPDATE: Robotech® Genesis Pits™ Sourcebook

If Harmony Gold approves and allows everything we’re offering up for this book, you will love it. I’m almost done with the final edits and tweaks. It is packed with fun source material, new insight, creation and encounter tables, new monsters, mutants and ideas for adventure.

UPDATE: Robotech® Tactical Role-Playing Game

This week has been jumping with activity on this front as Palladium works to nail down a formal agreement with the force we want behind the design of the game, packaging and sculpting. Emails and telephone calls have been flying, I have a draft agreement to review tonight, and follow-up calls to make tomorrow with this group as well as Harmony Gold. It is an adrenaline rush that should result in products that will wow and delight Robotech® fans of every stripe. Starting with plans to bring you more RPG products and gorgeous 1/285th game pieces for all eras of Robotech®.

UPDATE: Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook

When I finish Robotech® Genesis Pits, I jump into Vampires with both feet. All the art is done. Much of the book is written. Now it’s time to bring it all home.

UPDATE: Rifts® Northern Gun™ One and Two

Chuck Walton continues to work on art. Matthew Clements is dropping in some additions and fine-tuning material. Like I said last Update, you can think of the two Rifts® Northern Gun books as Rifts® Black Market on steroids.

UPDATE: Rifts® Megaverse® in Flames

I want this epic and evocative book out by the end of the year and will do my best to make it happen. It is another crowd pleaser.

UPDATE: Beyond the Supernatural™

There is a fair amount of excitement and anticipation for BTS sourcebooks, especially the long awaited Tome Grotesque and Beyond Arcanum sourcebooks. They are scheduled for a 2013 release, so there is no news on them yet. HOWEVER, there has been some chatter from concerned fans that the books will not actually come out. I want you to know that their release in 2013 is a personal mission of mine. They will see release sometime next year.

UPDATE: The Rifter® #50, Anniversary Issue – back in print

We have sent The Rifter® #50 back in for a short, special printing. It should be available for purchase around October 12-15. The same time that The Rifter® #60 should be ready to ship. 128 pages – $14.95 retail – Cat. No. 150. Contains source material for Rifts®, Chaos Earth™, Phase World®, Nightbane®, Heroes Unlimited™, Ninjas and Superspies™, Splicers® and the Palladium Fantasy RPG®. Ships October 12, 2012.

UPDATE: Kevin’s Online Toy & Collectibles Store

Alex and I will be adding a few new Palladium collectibles to my online store and we will continue to add items on a more regular basis. There are no more than five Rifts® Lemuria Emerald Editions earmarked for the store and other items such as the Rifts® Machinations of Doom Gold Hardcover,Rifts® RPG Silver hardcovers, BTS Gold,Rifts® Ultimate Gold, Erick Wujcik’s Amberzine #11, etc. are also in short supply. In most cases, I have only a dozen or less to offer. That’s why we continue to dole them out one at a time. Once they are sold out, of course, they are GONE! Other collectibles include first printings of books, signed books, “proofreader” copies of books (a couple more coming your way soon), original artwork, and other collectible odds and ends.

There are also a large number of collectible toys and action figures in my online store. All are from my personal collection. More toys and collectibles are added on a weekly basis.

UPDATE: Palladium Christmas Surprise Packages

Christmas is just around the corner. Every year for something like 15 years now, Palladium Books does what we call our Christmas Surprise Package.

The concept is simple and fun. You pay a low, flat price of $38 (plus shipping and handling), send us a “wish list” of 10-12 different (available) products and we send you $80 or more (sometimes considerably more) worth of Palladium product. And if you ask us to, the Palladium staff and available freelancers are happy to sign each and every book we send you. For many gamers, this is the only way they can get autographs.

We ask for a “wish list” of 10-12 items so that you do NOT know what you are getting. This creates anticipation and the element of surprise, so that just like getting a present on Christmas morning, you are pleasantly surprised by what the package contains.

The Christmas Surprise Package is a great way for you to try new Palladium games, sourcebooks and game settings, get Christmas presents for your gaming buddies at a low price, and try books you’ve been wondering about. It’s Palladium’s way of saying thank you to our many loyal and wonderful fans by doing something special. Plus it captures the essence of the holidays, and not just Christmas; these Palladium Surprise Packages are for all gamers, everywhere.

That’s the short version of the Palladium Christmas Surprise Package. We will email a full description and put it up in the Palladium online store in a week or two. As a general rule of thumb, we start offering the Christmas Grab Bags around the middle of October. We’ve been so busy trying to get new product to the printer and working on other projects for next year, that we are rather behind on everything, but I wanted you to know that we will be doing the Surprise Packages this year and they’ll start soon. Ho, ho, ho!

– Kevin Siembieda, Publisher and Surrogate Santa

Rifts® Black Market Hardcover

– Gold Contraband Edition – Available now!

Everything you want to know about the Black Market of Rifts® North America presented inside a pair of gorgeous black leatherette covers. Gold foil embossing on front cover and spine. Historically, gold collector editions only increase in value on the collector’s market, and often quickly. This is the lowest number of a Collector’s Gold Edition that Palladium has ever printed.

Rifts® Black Market™ – Softcover Edition – Available now

See what everyone is talking about and order yours today. Rifts® Black Market™ is an epic, 192 page sourcebook that contains a wealth of information about the inner workings of the Black Market, the Five Factions, new Bandito Arms/Black Market weapons and gear, how to make any O.C.C. a Black Marketeer, special abilities of the Black Marketeer, criminal enterprises, Black Market loans, merc and crime jobs, and much more. This book has it all. AND best of all, a lot of it can be easily adapted to just about any world setting, not just Rifts Earth.

Rules to make any O.C.C. (or R.C.C.) a Black Marketeer.

Special abilities and benefits of the Black Marketeer.

Specialized O.C.C.s of the Black Market.

Criminal enterprises, jobs, and inner workings of the Black Market.

The Five Black Market Factions that wield the greatest power in North America: Bandito Arms, The Chicago Network, The Immaterial Hand, El Oculta, and Le Marche Noir.

Rifts® Vampires Sourcebook™ – October Release

Unknown to most humans, deep within Mexico the vampires have established entire kingdoms. There they live like tyrants and gods, dominating an underclass of cattle people used as slaves and food stock. Learn more about the vampires, their rivals, allies and the humans who willingly serve their supernatural masters for a chance to join the undead. A must-have guide for those who wish to travel deeper into the Vampire Kingdoms or play as vampires and their human minions. In final production right now with art and text coming in and final editing and writing restarting next week.

More human kingdoms within Mexico like the Tampico Military Protectorate and Durango, the Silver City.

Firefighting robots, hover firetrucks and more anti-vampire gear.

Magic based Vampire Hunters and human strongholds.

Techno-Wizard anti-vampire weapons and magical devices.

Profiles for Doc Reid and Reid’s Rangers, the world’s most famous Vampire Hunters.

Fort Reid, an entire city devoted to hunting the undead.

The Bloodwatch, a secret vampire intelligence agency that tracks down and exterminates Vampire Hunters.

The Yucatan Peninsula, a mysterious dimensional pocket overrun by strange demons known as Xibalbans.

The return of the Mayan god Camazotz, Lord of Bats and Darkness.

The werebeasts of Mexico and Central America; those who assist the vampires and those who fight against them.

NEW! The Rifter® #60 – October Release

The Rifter® Number 60 is an action-packed issue that delves into adventure, magic, monsters and strange war machines. In production right now.

The Rifter® is an idea factory. The key to unlocking the unlimited resources of the imagination for numerous Palladium RPG world settings. It helps players and Game Masters to generate new ideas and keep their games fresh, and provides useful, ready to go, source material that gamers can just drop into their ongoing games.

Every issue of The Rifter® offers new monsters, villains, characters, O.C.C.s, powers, magic, weapons, adventure and ideas for your use in games and campaigns. There is usually source material for at least 2-3 Palladium game lines, often more.

The Rifter® #60 includes:

Rifts® Black Market – Trust and Intimidate: A Way of Life, by Liam Gray.

Rifts® Sorcerer’s Forge – Timothy Dorman presents a secret community of Techno-Wizards and their unique TW weapons, power armor and gear, as well as details about the place and some interesting inhabitants.

Splicers® – Kris Tipping presents House Pandorum and a host of new Splicers weapons, armor, mutants and monsters.

Heroes Unlimited – Adventure by Thomas Morrison.

Modern Horror Short Story – J.V. Adams spins a tale of intrigue and mystery.

Robotech® Genesis Pits™ Sourcebook – October Release

An in-depth look at the Invid Genesis Pits, their purpose, function and the creatures they create. Many, many avenues of adventure and ideas to spice up your Robotech® campaign with unexpected menaces and intrigue. In production right now!

Secrets of the Invid.

Notable Genesis Pits of Earth.

Genesis Pit mutations and monsters.

Different types of Genesis Pits from across the galaxy.

Inorganics and other war machines of the Invid Regent.

Ways to destroy a Genesis Pit.

Genesis Pit Monster creation tables and rules.

Bioroid and Zentraedi mutants, Simulagents and more.

Written by Irvin Jackson. 8½ x 11 size book format. Available only in the USA and Canada.

Rifts® World Book 33: Northern Gun™ One

Northern Gun™ is the largest independent manufacturer of high-tech weapons, robots and vehicles in North America. Outside of the Coalition States, one could argue, no other kingdom is as powerful or influential, at least when it comes to technology and weapons. The manufacture and sale of Northern Gun weapons and vehicles has given virtually every kingdom, town, colony of settlers and adventurer group a chance to survive and prosper. Located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, NG has been the premier outfitter of mercenaries, adventurers and upstart kingdoms for generations. Now, for the first time ever, learn Northern Gun’s history, goals and plans for the future. Of course, that means new weapons, robots, power armor, vehicles and gear.

In-depth look at Northern Gun: its business operations and its community.

Rifts® World Book 35: Megaverse® in Flames™

The Minion War spills across Rifts Earth, where demons and infernals hope to recruit allies and use the Rifts as gateways of destruction. Their influence shakes things up across the planet, especially at locations where demons and Deevils already have a strong presence. Demons, Deevils and supernatural beings run rampant and wreak havoc across the world.

Demon plagues and mystic blights.

Soulmancy and Blood Magic revealed.

Magical and demonic weapons and war machines.

Demonic armies, strongholds and places of evil.

Hell Pits and Rune Forges.

Many Demon Lords, their minions and plans.

Calgary, the Kingdom of Monsters; in detail.

Ciudad de Diablo, Harpies’ Island and other notable Hell holes on Earth.

Lord Doom, Pain and other demonic leaders.

Horune treachery, Dimension Stormers and other villains.

Notable demonic generals, mercenaries, people and places.

Battleground: Earth – as demons and infernals amass their legions.

Global chaos and the places most dramatically affected by the Demon Plagues.

PDF downloads from DriveThruRPG.com

This is a great resource for getting out of print Palladium titles and other select books. We’ve made 90 titles available as PDF digital downloads from DriveThruRPG.com. This is a great way to try Palladium products and get access to out of print RPG source material. Some notable titles include.

BACK IN PRINT: Rifts® World Book 18: Mystic Russia™

– Available now

Russian mythology and magic come to life in this fan favorite Rifts® World Book. The book includes all kinds of demons, monsters, new magic character classes (O.C.C.s), and nine different types of gypsies – some of whom are adventurers, others mystics and mages, some psychics and one is even a beguiling shape-shifter. Plus more background about Russia and the Sovietski.

36 Fire Magic spells.

29 Nature Magic spells.

18 Russian Demons, their powers and hierarchy.

10 Russian Woodland spirits, including the Man-Wolf and Werebests.

The Night Witch, Hidden Witch and Born Mystic O.C.C.s.

Necromancy and Necromancers expanded and their place in Russia.

The Russian Ley Line Walker character class (O.C.C.).

The Russian Shifter/Summoner O.C.C. (and all those demons to call upon).

BACK IN PRINT: Rifts® Coalition Wars® One: Sedition™

– Available now

Magic vs Technology. The infamous Coalition/Siege on Tolkeen story arc starts with this 160 page sourcebook. Not only does it lay the groundwork for the Coalition’s all-out siege on the kingdom of magic, but it includes a vast number of Techno-Wizard weapons and vehicles, powerful magic artifacts, demons, monsters, magic and a historic Crisis Time-Line from 12 P.A. to 106 P.A.

BACK IN PRINT: Rifts® Coalition Wars® Two: Coalition Overkill™

– Available now

The Siege on Tolkeen goes into full swing as the Coalition Army makes the first devastating attacks on Tolkeen. Coalition Generals, Special Forces squads, and strategies are presented with a wealth of adventure ideas.

Rifts® Coalition Wars® Four: Cyber-Knights™

– Available now

We didn’t want you to forget about this excellent sourcebook in the series. The Coalition’s siege on Tolkeen has had a devastating impact on people across North America. None have been more affected than the Cyber-Knights. This sourcebook reveals not only the history and secrets of the Cyber-Knights, but the schism the war has created among the fabled warriors.

Rifts® World Book 23: Xiticix Invasion™

– Back in print – Available now

Earth is home to thousands of alien species from beyond the Rifts. One of the strangest and most dangerous is the Xiticix. A danger nobody seemed to realize until the sprawling Hivelands began to encroach on the territories of other people. Armed with new breeds of aggressive warriors, new weapons and legions of insectoids willing to fight to the death, people are beginning to wonder if they are the next threat to humanity.

Rifts® World Book 31: Triax™ Two

– Back in print – Available now

The war between the people of the New German Republic and the Gargoyle Empire rages on, but only the heroes of the NGR seem to be getting the upper hand. See where things stand in the year 109 P.A. and get a closer look at the NGR Army, government, society and people. This World Book also presents the latest weapons, combat vehicles, power armor and robots of the NGR as well as commercial vehicles, robot helpers, and more.

27 new Triax weapons plus new body armor and additional gear.

10 new Triax giant robots including the Talon and Devastator II.

10 cars and commercial vehicles plus more than 50 special features.

9 new robot drones including robot assistants, pets and Spy ‘Bots.

6 new Triax power armor suits, including the Predator II, Ulti-Max II, War Eagle, Fat Boy, and a flying Glitter Boy.

Rifts® Sourcebook Two: The Mechanoids®

– Back in Print – Available now

Archie 3 and Hagan Lonovich are two of the most beloved villains (anti-heroes?) in the Rifts Earth setting. This sourcebook highlights their strange relationship, plots and blunders. One of which is inadvertently unleashing The Mechanoids® into the world!

The Mechanoids have one driving goal: To destroy all humanoid life! This book has it all. Source material, the Mechanoids, new equipment, monsters, adventure and cryptic prophecies.

The prophecies of the Seven Dangers.

20+ Mechanoids and their robot legion.

Optional Mechanoids® Player Characters and character sheets.

Archie Three and Hagan: Heroes or villains?

The weapons and robot minions of Hagan Lonovich.

New creations from Archie Three and Hagan, plus more history and insight about the unlikely duo.

Dead Reign™ Sourcebook 3: Endless Dead™ – Available now

Endless Dead™ is a new 96 page sourcebook that will send your Dead Reign™ campaign in new directions or add depth (and zombies). What are you waiting for? Order your copy today. And if you haven’t taken a look at the Dead Reign™ RPG yet, but love zombies, you need to give this dynamic game a try.

7 new types of weird zombie amalgamations, plus variations.

5 new O.C.C.s include the Wheelman, Zombie Hunter, Zombie Researcher, Survivalist and Sentinel.

The Military. An expansive section on the military and their response to the Zombie Apocalypse.

Classic Rifts® Miniatures – Back in stock

The following favorite Rifts® miniatures are back in stock. Some, like the Glitter Boy, have sold on the collector’s market for as much as $50-$120. They are being re-released for the first time in a decade.

Approximately 25 mm in size.

Each figure is an unpainted, pewter miniature. Some assembly and cleaning may be required.

Sold as a single, individual figure in a plastic bag and comes with a black, 30 mm or 40 mm plastic base.

Prices vary according to size, but range from $6-20 retail.

Sorry, not currently available in stores. Available only from Palladium Books.

Palladium Convention Calendar

Over the next several weeks, Palladium and various staff members will be making appearances and selling product at various gaming events. We sent out a special email last week to let folks know about some of these events, but here’s a more complete listing. Come on over and join the fun.

ConGregate Game Convention – October 6, 2012 – Livonia, Michigan

Julius Rosenstein and Palladium pal and G.M., Jim Cross, will be running Palladium gaming events. Jim is also the convention organizer. There will be all kinds of fun gaming events. I’m sure I’ll pop in at least briefly considering its just down the road from the Palladium Office.

YoumaCon – November 1-4 – Detroit, Michigan

This a rapidly exploding anime convention the could have 15,000+ people this year. It includes a wide range of amazing costumes, guests, events, cosplay, gaming and multi-media fun.

Palladium Books will be exhibiting in the dealers’ room and we’ll have members of the Palladium staff and other maniacs at the booth, including me (Kevin Siembieda), Wayne Smith, Alex Marciniszyn, Julius Rosenstein, Chuck Walton and maybe a few other Palladium madmen. Artist Ben Rodriguez will be there too, but he’ll have his own booth. It all happens at Cobo Hall, downtown Detroit, near the waterfront. Join the fun.

Anime North – May 24-26, 2013 – Toronto, Canada

Speaking of which, have I mentioned that I will be one of the guests at Anime North in Toronto next year? Well, I will. The event takes place Memorial Day weekend, May 24-26, 2013. This will be my first time back at a convention in Canada in something like 15 years. Too long. www.animenorth.com

Gen Con® Indy – August 15-18, 2013 – Indianapolis, Indiana

Oh yeah, we can hardly wait for Gen Con next year. We may even need to expand the size of our booth.

Note: No Palladium Open House in 2013 and right now, there are no plans for one in 2014.